Tag Archives: education

Gay History – January 1, 1967: The Black Cat Tavern in Los Angeles Raided

Featured, Gay History, Of Interest, , , , , , ,

On New Year’s Day in 1967, undercover officers arrested 14 patrons of the Black Cat Tavern, one of a number of gay bars that lined Sunset Boulevard at the time.  The bar attracted a largely working class clientele and was nestled among a number of businesses friendly to gay men and lesbians.

According to Tangents – a local gay newspaper – “The Black Cat was happy and hooping” before undercover police arrived and started beating patrons as they were ringing in the New Year: “There were colored balloons covering the ceiling … and three glittering Christmas trees”  Moments later, “all hell broke loose.” 

That night the Black Cat was packed, the barroom strung with Christmas lights. A trio called the Rhythm Queens was performing, and when the costume contest concluded at New Faces

As the clock stuck midnight balloons tumbled from the ceiling. The Rhythm Queens belted out “Auld Lang Syne,” and for a moment there was time to grab a kiss. But not all the revelers were there for the same party. At five minutes after midnight, plainclothes policemen began swinging clubs and pool cues, dragging patrons out the door and into the street. They pulled the bartender over the bar, lacerating his face on broken glass. Two patrons ran across Sanborn and took cover in the crowd at New Faces, where Circus of Books now stands. Officers followed, breaking one bartender’s nose, leaving another with a ruptured spleen. Sixteen people were arrested that night—six of them charged with lewd conduct, also known as kissing.

Two of the men arrested for kissing were later convicted under California Penal Code Section 647 and registered as sex offenders. The men appealed, asserting their right of equal protection under the law, but the U.S. Supreme Court did not accept their case.

On February 11, 1967 hundreds of people;  gays, lesbians, bisexuals, drag queens and straight allies gathered outside the Black Cat to protest police antagonism, harassment, and violence toward the city’s gay and lesbian community.

Witness accounts indicate the demonstration was peaceful, if not a little tense because of heavy police monitoring.

While the Stonewall Riots of 1969 is the milestone that we commemorate and remember to mark of our liberation.  There are lesser remembered protests and pickets that happened before Stonewall that were just as important to our visibility and our fight for our rights that should always be remembered.

Image

Image

50 years ago the first major gay rights demonstration happened in Silver Lake - Curbed LA

*CAN YOU HELP?

Since 2008 Back2Stonewall has strived to educate the LGBT community about our history and noteworthy news stories. I have done so out of love, pocketing all expenses for all these years to avoid annoying potentially harmful ads. But due to the overwhelming medical bills I cannot continue on without your help. (And believe me I do hate to ask) As many of you know, and many don’t for the past 2 years I have been suffering with infections in first my left foot and then my right ankle which looks like it will have to be amputated in the near future. Medical bills, equipment, medications have wiped out my savings and retirement fund because I have been unable to work and disability retirement is extremely backed up because of COVID and quite simply I am out of funds to run the site or deal with my bills and mortgage.

If you can make a donation , any size to help keep Back2Stonewall and my life going it would be greatly appreciated and never forgotten.

Thank you: Will

PAYPAL will@back2stonewall.com

VENMO @Will-Kohler-1

GOFUNDME: https://gofund.me/a1ea206a

FLORIDA Creates Anti-LGBT Censorship Council

FLORIDA Creates Anti-LGBT Censorship Council

Featured, Gay News Domestic & U.S. Politics, , , ,

The Daily Beast reports: In the name of “curriculum transparency,” Florida’s Republican-controlled state government has appointed several anti-gay and anti-mask conspiracy theorists to take charge of a new effort at public schools: banning books. This hastily assembled censorship council—tasked with retraining public school librarians to abide by new restrictions—is the latest ploy in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ crusade to upend the state’s education system. The council was also staffed under suspicious circumstances, with the state Education Department ignoring its own call for official candidates from local school districts and instead filling most of the slots with right-wing activists who have a history of proposing book bans. Michelle Beavers’ bona fides consist of right-wing activism. She leads the local chapter of Moms for Liberty, a MAGA contingent that has antagonized her school board for years.

A play straight out of Hitler’s Germany in the 30s.

Biden Administration Proposes Protections for LGBT Students and Women

Biden Administration Proposes Protections for LGBT Students and Women

Featured, Gay News Domestic & U.S. Politics, , , , ,

Via the AP:

The Biden administration proposed a dramatic overhaul of campus sexual assault rules on Thursday, acting to expand protections for LGBTQ students, bolster the rights of victims and widen colleges’ responsibilities in addressing sexual misconduct. The proposal, announced on the 50th anniversary of the Title IX women’s rights law, is intended to replace a set of controversial rules issued during the Trump administration by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. The proposal is almost certain to be challenged by conservatives, and it is expected to lead to new legal battles over the rights of transgender students in schools, especially in sports.

Love ya Joe. But still waiting on the Equality Act in the first 100 days, It’s now 942 days before the END of your first term.

Just saying.

KENTUCKY: Homework Assignment at Christian Academy of Louisville: Persuade your friend to stop being GAY.

KENTUCKY: Homework Assignment at Christian Academy of Louisville: Persuade your friend to stop being GAY.

Featured, Gay News Domestic & U.S. Politics, Religious Morons and Anti-Gay Idiots, , , , , ,

A homework assignment given to some middle-schoolers (7th. grade = 11/12 yo) at Christian Academy of Louisville, Kentucky has been exposed showing how it encourages students to persuade an “imaginary friend” to reject being gay. *cough*-GROOMING-*cough*

Via: The Courier Journal:

Screenshots show the assignment required students to write a letter to a hypothetical friend “struggling with homosexuality” and persuade them “God’s design for them is good,” “homosexuality will not bring them satisfaction” and “you love them even though you don’t approve of their lifestyle.” – Assume that you have known this friend since kindergarten, that you go to the same church and that you have been pretty good friends over the years until now,” the screenshot of the assignment read. “… The aim of your letter should be to lovingly and compassionately speak truth to the person you’re talking to in a way that does not approve of any sin. Instead, TRY TO PERSUADE THEM OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD’S DESIGN for them.”

Christian Academy of Louisville School System Superintendent Darin Long in a statement said the assignment had been given to students in a middle school Bible elective class.

The homework was “part of a unit of study which discusses ‘What are humans and where is their identity?'” Long wrote, and “in context, was how a person could discuss homosexuality with a friend from a biblical perspective with compassion and love.”

And Jesus wept. Again.

Gay History – May 7, 1365: 15-Year-Old Giovanni di Giovanni Tortured and Killed for the Crime of Sodomy in Italy

Featured, Gay History, Of Interest, , ,

Giovanni di Giovanni (1350 – 1365) is one of the youngest victims of the campaign against homosexuality waged in 14th-century Florence., Italy.

His persecution came on the heels of the Black Death, the bubonic plague epidemic which had ravaged the city two years earlier. Some of the most influential people of the religious establishment, such as Bernardino of Siena, blamed sodomites for having brought the wrath of God down on the heads of the populace. The “remedy” they promoted was to purify the city of evil by means of fire, leading to burnings at the stake and other punishments (red-hot iron) such as that suffered by poor young Giovanni.

Di Giovanni was labeled “a public and notorious passive sodomite” and convicted by the Podestà court of being the passive partner of a number of different men. His punishment was to be paraded on the back of an ass, then to be publicly castrated. Finally, he was to have his anus burned with a red-hot iron (or, as the sentence read: “[punished] in that part of the body where he allowed himself to be known in sodomitical practice”) It is presumed he did not survive the ordeal.

So as you can see extremist Christians have blamed the misfortune and disasters that fell upon them on homosexuals for centuries and we have been persecuted and murdered us because of their hatred and bigotry.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Supports ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill, White House Responds

Gay News Domestic & U.S. Politics, Religious Morons and Anti-Gay Idiots, , , ,

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (DeathSantis) has voiced his support for a bill that would prohibit the discussion of sexual orientation and/or gender identity in the state’s primary schools.

DeSantis said it’s entirely inappropriate” for teachers to be having conversations with students about gender identity, citing instances of them telling children, “Don’t worry, don’t pick your gender yet,” and also “hiding” classroom lessons from parents.

““Schools need to be teaching kids to read, to write. They need to teach them science, history. We need more civics and understanding of the U.S. Constitution, what makes our country unique, all those basic stuff. The larger issue with all of this is parents must have a seat at the table when it comes to what’s going on in their schools,” he added.

The Biden administration sharply criticized Republicans in Florida on Tuesday for backing the measure.

“Every parent, as one myself too, hopes that our leaders will ensure their children’s safety, protection and freedom, and today conservative politicians in Florida rejected those basic values,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during a press briefing Tuesday.

President Biden also weighed in shortly after the briefing, denouncing the legislation as “hateful.”

“I want every member of the LGBTQI+ community — especially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful bill — to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are,” he tweeted.

‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill To Ban All LGBT Education Moves Forward in Florida

Gay News Domestic & U.S. Politics, Religious Morons and Anti-Gay Idiots, , , ,

A Florida bill that would limit classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity and encourage parents to sue schools or teachers that engage in these topics is speeding through the GOP controlled state House and Senate.

The aptly nicknamed “Don’t Say Gay” bill by LGBT fear that if this bill is signed into law, it could act as a complete ban on the lessons on LGBT oppression, history and discussions about LGBT identities.

The two bills in the state legislature, HB 1557 and SB 1834, state that a school district “may not encourage classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.” It also adds that parents who catch a violation of this rule can sue, seeking damages and reimbursement for attorney fees and court costs.

Florida GOP House Rep. Joe Harding, who is the sponsor of the legislation, hopes it will “reinforce the fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding upbringing & control of their children,” according to the bill’s text.

The bill is particularly troubling in a state where there have been tragic hate crimes committed against those in the LGBT community, including the 2016 mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando  in which 49 people were killed and another 53 wounded.

2021 was a record-breaking year for anti-LGBTQ legislation. More than 250 of these bills were introduced and at least 17 were enacted into law. All of which introduced into GOP controlled states.

Lawsuit Filed Against NYC's Yeshvia University For Banning LGBT Student Org

Lawsuit Filed Against NYC’s Yeshvia University For Banning LGBT Student Org

Featured, Gay News Domestic & U.S. Politics, , ,

A lawsuit has been filed by LGBT students and alumni of Yeshiva University, (YU) a private modern Orthodox Jewish research university in New York City, alleging the university is violating their rights under NYC’s human rights law by denying the recognition of the universities LGBT group the YU Pride Alliance, as an official club

The university released the following statement on the lawsuit:

“At the heart of our Jewish values is love — love for God and love for each of His children,” the statement said. “Our LGBTQ+ students are our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, family and friends. Our policies on harassment and discrimination against students on the basis of protected classifications including LGBTQ+ are strong and vigorously enforced. Our Torah-guided decision about this club in no way minimizes the care and sensitivity that we have for each of our students, nor the numerous steps the university has already taken.”

Yeshiva University is unique because it has had secular status since 1969 and should be treated like any other institution that would not be allowed to discriminate against a group of LGBT students. Without formal recognition from the university, the LGBT students cannot use campus facilities for meetings, receive funding and advertise on campus platforms.

According to a 1995 university memo obtained by one of the alumni and mentioned in the lawsuit, Yeshiva University received advice from a law firm that it was required to allow LGBTQ students to form a recognized student organization under the city’s human rights law, but it has not complied with that legal advice.

NJ Mayor Orders Investigation Into Homophobic Remarks Made By NJ Teachers in Zoom Training Class

NJ Mayor Orders Investigation Into Homophobic Remarks Made By NJ Teachers in Zoom Training Class

Featured, Gay News Domestic & U.S. Politics, , ,
Screenshot of Dumont High School teachers' chat.

Dumont, N.J. Mayor Andrew LaBruno has ordered an investigation after two N.J. high school teachers were caught cracking homophobic jokes and remarks during a Zoom training class.

“Why is that kid with the gay gym teacher?” asks one, according to a screenshot of the chat posted online. “Is that her adopted kid? Who is gonna be all f—-d up growing up watching 2 chicks kissing and calling them both mom,” says another, according to the screenshot.

Mayor LaBruno called the chat “disturbing and extremely appalling.”

“These homophobic comments do not reflect our community’s values, nor do they represent our beliefs in the borough of Dumont,” the mayor said. “We are an inclusive and welcoming community.

“While there is still much work to be done fighting against inequalities and standing up for human rights, our educators mold our children’s minds,” LaBruno said, ” and these comments have no place in our education system. Dumont is one big family, and together we must ensure that all of our neighbors know that hate has no home here.”

It was not clear if students were also on the call at the time, or who took and then forwarded a screen grab of the chat.

An online petition launched by former DHS graduate Matthew DeMarco says the comments are “unacceptable and should not be tolerated by the school district or its employees, and should result in their forced resignations immediately.

“This behavior is unacceptable and should not be tolerated by the school district or its employees, and should result in their forced resignations immediately,” the petition states.

Over 4000 people have so far signed the petition. You can add your name to it by clicking HERE.


Texas Officials Tell Librarians to REMOVE LGBT Books, AG Tell School District "PRIDE Week" is Illegal

Texas State Board of Ed Rejects Teaching Students About Respect for LGBT People

Featured, Gay News Domestic & U.S. Politics, , , , , ,

The Republican-controlled Texas State Board of Education rejected proposals in a series of votes Thursday and Friday to teach students in public school health classes that everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

Board member Ruben Cortez, D-Brownsville, proposed standards requiring students in Grades 7-8 and high school be able to define and differentiate between sexual orientation and gender identity. Two other proposals called for students to learn that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their orientation or identity. Board Democrats and one Republican backed all four proposals, but nine Republicans voted them down.

“Imagine the tragic message state board members have sent by refusing to acknowledge that LGBT students even exist in our classrooms,” said Carisa Lopez, political director for the Texas Freedom Network., “The board had a chance to stand with young people who are looking to feel safe and respected in their schools. A majority of board members chose to abandon them and stand with the bullies instead.”

Mary Elizabeth Castle, policy advisor at the 501(c)(3) non-profit anti-LGBT hate group Texas Values countered: “Today, we are grateful that the State Board of Education voted to stick to education and teach children how to live a healthy and productive life as opposed to confusing them with controversial political ideologies. The statewide Health standards look nothing like Austin ISD’s radical sex education propaganda; and efforts to politicize Science failed.”